Electric signal assembly



June 21, 1960 R. P. LoNGARzo 2,942,234

ELECTRIC SIGNAL ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 25, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l l m 4mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Sgm'lm ""mmmll Immm' ...Imm

June 21, 1960 R. P. LoNGARzo 2,942,234

ELECTRIC SIGNAL ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 25, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 21,1960 R. P. LoNGARzo ELECTRIC SIGNAL ASSEMBLY 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 00t-25, 1957 June 21, 1960 R. P. LoNGARzo ELECTRIC SIGNAL ASSEMBLY 4Sheets-Sheel'l 4 Filed Oct. 25, 1957 mON m mm- N mn l mw nmldulmELECTRIC SIGNAL ASSEMBLY Roland P. Longarzo, R0. Box 32, Valley Stream,N.Y.

Filed Oct. 25, 1957, Ser. No. 692,331

Claims. (Cl. 340-47) This invention relates broadly to electric signalassemblies and in its more specific aspects it relates to such signalswhich are specifically designed for use as an accessory with miniaturerailway systems where simplicity of assembly and"connection of electricconductors into a circuit is highly desirable; and the nature andobjects of the invention willl be readily recognized and understood bythose skilled in the arts to which it relates in the light of thefollowing explanation and detailed description of the accompanyingdrawings illustrating what I at present believe to be preferredembodiments 'or mechanical expressions of my invention from amongvarious other forms, arrangements,` combinations and constructions, ofwhich the invention is capable within the spirit and scope thereof.

The construction of the signal and the circuit used therein has beendesigned for use in an automatic control and signalling system` such asthat disclosed in my pending patent application Serial No; 588,411, andwhile it is particularlyy adapted for use with such a system it may, ofcourse, be used with other types of control systems for miniaturerailways.

The signal of' this invention comprises a plurality of structuralcomponents and a plurality of electric components, each of which isvformed with a view to low production costsy and ease of assembly as wellas-I providing a sturdy and-long lasting signal structure.

In designing this signal assembly it has been one of myi major objectsto so design and construct the structural components thereof thatY theymay be expeditiously assembled into a strong and realistic appearingsignal structure and to so arrange the structural components that theelectrical parts of the system may be easily associated therewithA inproper contact making andlvotherpositions. A signal. of the character tobe described involves a substantial number of electrical conductors andcontact points andthe proper placement and arrangement of suchvelectrical components is not normally an easy task, however the assemblyconcept'which I have evolved greatly simplifies this` assembly task andsubstantially reduces the difiiculties heretoforeA encountered in suchran assembly operation.

I. have found that substantial economies in production and assembly areobtained by making they signal in several parts which are formed to beeasily and quickly removably bound together without requiriryig the useof any adhesives or other extraneous clamping means. In producing` thesignal in thismanner Iv have provided a minimum of separate componentsand each component includes the greatest possible number of signalelements. Thus, where possible I have formed several elements into anintegrated component` and have thereby reduced the number of separatecomponents which are. required.y It

will be recognized that this reduction of the number of,

components reduces the number of connections which must be made in theassembly operation and thus. simpliiies and speeds up. the task of.assembling the various parts into the finished signal apparatus. Y

For many production assembly and economy reasons Ciel 4 most of theparts of the signal are formed of molded .has been formed.

plastic of any suitable type.

It will be appreciated that an electric signal assembly of the typewhich is to be used withminiature railway systems must be built inproportion to the size ofvv the other parts of the system. In otherwords size is a critical factor. In keeping my assembly down to theneces'- sary proportions all components have, of necessity?. been madesmall and in order to include all the essential components I haveevolved an organization of several conrplementary structural parts eachof which mounts and carries certain electrical components. In thismanner I have been able to reduce the number of electrical componentswhich are mounted on any one structural part to thereby keep down thesize of each structural part.

One of the molded components of the assembly is the lamp housing mountedat the upper' end of the signal standard. The housing is formed with apair of electric signal lamp bulb receiving sockets which are incommunication solely through a relatively small aperture. IA havedevised a unique method for inserting and positioning the necessarycommon or ground conductor into proper position within each bulb socketafter the housing In providing realistic appearing miniature signals ofthe type with which l am concerned it is desirable that all electricalconductors be substantially concealed Within the various components andwith this in mind it will be appreciated that'the vpositioning of theground for the conductorsy posed a substantial problem which I havesolved by the aforementioned method and construction. l 4- The signalassembly `of`this invention when operatively connected into a miniaturerailway system is' electrically connected to the traclrof the railroadand it is one of my objects to provide a good electrical contact betweenthe track and the signal organization and to provide easily-operablemeans for electrically connecting andv disconnecting' an electricalconductor to the track and to vthe desired electrical conductorsincorporated in and :apparent from the following explanation, theinvention consists in certain novel features in design, construction,mounting and combination of elements, as will be more fully andparticularly referred tol and specied'hereinafter.

Referring to thev accompanying drawings: Y v

Fig. l :is a View in side elevation of the signalassembl of thislinvention in assembled operative condition.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the base of the assembly with theVreversing relay mounted in operative position thereon.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the base illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of `the base cover or relay housingillustrating the electrical connections carried in the interior thereof.v

Fig. 5 is an exploded view illustrating rthe base and the elementscarried thereby.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the base insert and its electricalconnections priorv to being mountedl in and connected with the base.

Fig. 7 is` a perspective view vof. the signal assembly in operativeposition electrically connected with a track,

to-thereby maintain the bed 13 thereabove.

Vthe ground conductor in the lamp sockets.

Fig. ll -is a view in front-elevation of the signal lamp housing showingthe second step in the method of inserting the ground conductor in thelamp sockets. Y

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 but with the upper or red signallight bulb operatively positioned in the up- .per socket.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. ,l2 and showing the third step in themethod of inserting the ground oonductor in the lamp sockets. Y

Fig. 14 illustrates a oircuitdiagram with which a pair of signalassemblies are connected.

In the accompanying drawings, and particularly Fig. l thereof, I haveillustrated a signal assembly in assembled operative condition whichcomprises a base designated generally by the numeral 1 which may be ofgenerally rectangular configuration, an elongated relay housingdesignated generally by the numeral 3 which is removably attached .tothe base in a manner to be hereinafter described. When the relay housing3 is in attached position it forms a cover for certain operatingelements which are mounted on the base. The signal assembly alsoincludes a tubular standard, designated generally by the numeral 5,which may be formed integral with and projecting upwardly from the relayhousing 3. j At its upper end the standard removably mounts a signallamp housing, designated in its entirety by the numeral 7. A ladderdesignated generally by numeral 9 is supported on and extends from relayhousing 3 up to lamp housing 7 and a platform designated generally bynumeral 11 extends between the ladder and the standard. The structuralcomponents described above are preferably molded or otherwise formedfrom any suitable typegof. plastic.

The base 1 comprises a supporting bed 13 from the edges of which sideanges 15 and end anges 17 depend, the tianges adapted to be rested on aVsupporting surface The bed 13 of the base 1 is molded or otherwiseformed to provide therein a central longitudinally elongated opening 19and a pair of longitudinally extending slots 21 are provided, one beingformed adjacent to but spaced from each end of opening 19 to providecross pieces 23 between each end of the opening and the adjacent slot.VThe slots are preferably of reduced width relative to .the width of theVopening and are spaced from the transverse ends of the bed. Adjacenteach corner a circular aperture 25 is formed in the bed and along onelongitudinal side of the bed I provide a series of longitudinally spacedapertures 26 and on the opposite side thereof I provide an aperture 27.Inwardly spaced from the aforesaid series of apertures a pair ofapertures 29 are formed in the bed.

One of the longitudinal side flanges 15 is formed with a pair ofrelatively shallow notches 31 adjacent each end thereof while a furtherand relatively deep and wide notch 33 is also formed in said side wall.The purposes of the Avarious openings, rapertures and notches which havejust been described will become apparent as this description proceeds.

I provide what yI shall term an inse designated in its ventirety by thenumeral 35, this insert preferably being .formed of a plastic materialof generally rectangular configuration of slightly less length than thatof base 1 and of a width substantially less than the width of thebase 1. As -will become apparent the insert is adapted for fastening'tothe under side of base 1 between the 4 flanges and the width is suchthat it extends from the notched flange 15 of the base transversely to apoint beyond opening 19 but not beyond the series of apertures 26.

VThe insert 35 is formed with a central opening 37 and two end openings39 each of which is separated from said central opening by a bridge' 41`which is preferably of reduced thickness relative to the thickness ofthe insert. Circular apertures 43 are formed in the insert adjacent twocorners thereof and each such opening is flanked by a pair ofpositioning pins 45. Further positioning pins 47 may also be provided.Projecting from and xed to the opposite surface of :the insert from thatfrom which the aforesaid pins project is a push pin or button 49 thepurpose of which will later become apparent. I also provide troughs 51which extend from each of the openings 39 and 37 to the adjacentlongitudinal edge of the insert.

Prior to being attached in proper position to the base 1, the insert 35has aixed thereto certain electrical conductor strips in the followingmanner: I provide a conductor strip having a longitudinal portion 53fromv one end of which extends at right angles thereto in a planeparallel to the transverse plane of the portion 53 a track contact legor connector. 55 and from the opposite end of portion 53 I provide anarmature contact 57 which extends from portion 53 in a planesubstantially perpendicular to the .transverse plane thereof. A furtherarma ture contact 59 extends from portion 53 in' substantial parallelrelation with respect to armature contact 57 and in spaced relationthereto adjacent the other end of portion 53. The conductor strip ispositioned and afxed to the insert by placing portion 53 lat against theinsert and .extending longitudinally thereof so that track contact willextend between the pair of positioning pins 45 on lone side; of theinsert and armature contact 59 will extend through one opening 39 while'the other armature contact will extend through the other opening 39. Thesaid conductor strip portion 53 may beheld in place by insert pins 61which extend through holes 63 formed in portion 53 and after the pinsare inserted in the holes they may be headed if, desired.V A contactscrew 65 may extend through hole 67 in track contact 55 and through theone hole 43 in the insert and be Aformed with a terminal head 69 on itsopposite'end'on the opposite side of the insert.

I provide a further conductor strip which is positioned on and aiiixedto the insert before the insert is combined with the base of 4the signalassembly. This 'conductor strip comprises a' main portion 71 from oneend of which extends in a parallel plane to the transverse plane ofportion 71 a track contact 73 and from'the'otheren'd an armature contact75 extends in a plane perpendicular to the transverse plane of portion71. This further conductor strip is aixed to the insert in such mannerthat portion 71 extends along the opposite edge of opening 37 from theotherconductor strip, .the insert pins 47 extending through holes 77 inportion 71, and if desiredrthe pins may be headed. The trackcontact 73extends between the other pair of positioning pins 45 and may be fixedrto the insert by a nut'and screw 79 which extends through a hole 43 inAtheinsert. The armature contact 75 extends through the insertopening`39 in position partially opposite armature contact 59 as will beapparent from consideration of Fig. 6 of the drawings. Fig. Y6illustrates the electrical conducting elements and the positioningthereof on the insert prior to its attachment tothe basel. Y l

I provide a series of connector elements which are connected to thebasel 1 and function 'to interconnect the various-electrical componentsof the signal assembly `together and to the sources of power, asdisclosed, for instance, in my pending patent application Serial No.

588,411, and` to, connect several signal assemblies with a ally by thereference letters` A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H. The connector element A isprovided with an apertured head 81 and an armature contact arm 83extending from Ithe head in angular relation thereto. The connectorelement B is provided with an apertured head 85 and a lamp contact 87.The heads 81 and 85 are connected to the base 1 at the left handaperture 26 of Fig. 5 by means'of a nut and bolt forming a soldering orthe like upstanding vterminal A1, the heads 81v and 85 Ibeing inelectrical convtact.

The lamp circuit contact arm 87 is bent to extend through and beyondaperture 29 so that it is upstanding above the upper surface of the bedof the base. (See Fig. 2.) Connector element C includes' an aperturedhead S9 and a Irelay winding contact arm 91. The head of the connectorelement C is mounted yon the base by means of a nut and `bolt `forming asoldering or the like upstanding terminal C1 which extends through thenext adjacent aperture 26 and the relay winding contact arm 91 extendsthrough and beyond the central opening 19 in the 'base to extend beyondthe bed of the base asclearly illustrated in Fig. 2. Connector element Dincludes an apertnred head 93 with a pair of spaced contact arms 95 and.97 extending therefrom in angular relation with respect thereto. Thecontact arm 95 is a common relay contactfarm While the arm 97 is aground or common and is provided with an insulated covering 99 on theinner side thereof.` `It will be apparent from consideration of thedrawings that arm 97 is of greater4 length than arm `95.v The head ofconnector element D is mounted on 'the base by means of a nut and boltforming a soldering Vor 'the like'upstandingterminal D1 which extendsthrough the next adjacent aperture 26. The common relay contact arm 95extends through and beyond central opening .19 in the base to extendbeyond the bed of the base and the common contact member 97 also extendsthrough and beyond said opening and is downwardly bent por curved asclearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. rTheconnectorl is formed withan apertured head 101 and an angularly related relay winding contact arm103 extending therefrorrn The member F is aconductor strip Vof. L shapeproviding a circuit control contact arm 105 having an aperture 107 inthe end thereof and a connecting arm 109 having an aperture 111 thereinadjacent the end thereof. The head .101 of the connector element Eandthe connecting arm 109 lof member F are Vixed to 'the base-unitarilyby means -of a nut and bolt forming a soldering or the like upst-andingterminal E1 which extends through the next adjacent aperture 26 whilethe relay winding contact arm '1,03 extends throughv and upwardly beyondvthe vbed of the base. The'circuit control arm extends across aperture27, notch 33 and the aperture 107 is aligned with aperture 27 in thebase `so that, as will vbecome apparent, when insert 35 is fixed to theVbasetlne, arm 105 will be in electrical contact with train Vcontactelement to be described, and will be maintained in position by pin 49passing through apertures V107and 27 as will become apparent. Theconnector element G is provided with an apertured head .1.12 :and anangularly related armature. circuit arm 113 extending therefrom whilethe connector element H is formed with an apertured head 115 and anVangularly related lamp contact arm 1157 extending therefrom. Theconnectorvelements ings. The `:relay is mounted on the bed 13 of-base :1in

position "thereabove by :means of --a 1 pair of discs 127 each of whichfis provided with acentral :'aperture'129 through bridge 41 of theinsert as at 135.

which the. armature may reciprocate to project :one or the other endthereof, land into which the endsof "the spool carrying the windings isaffixed in any suitable manner. A supporting leg 131 extends Iradiallyfrom each disc and a leg extends through each opening 21 of the base andthe end anges 133 of the spools may rest on the bed of the base.

When the described series of connector elements aixed to the base asdescribed the insert 35 with its aforementioned electrical componentsmay now be aixed to the base 1 of the signal assembly. The insert isbrought into position against the underside of the bed 13 of base 1 sothat the button 49 which is liixed to the insert will extend Athroughand beyond aperture 27 in the bed. The'arrnature contact 5,7 will extendthrough an opening 21 inthe berlin opposition to armature contact 113,armature cont'act 59 will extend through the other opening 21 in op'-position to armature contacts 75 and S3 `while track-contact S5 willextend through the notch 31 in wall 1'5 of the base. The track contact73 will extend through notch 31 of wall 1S and armature contact 75 willextend through an opening 21 in opposition to contact 59 but adjacent tobutrspaced fromcontact 83. Nut and screw organizations 65 and 79 alhxthe insert to the base 1 as explained.

The relay 119 may now be anchored to the base .by Ibending the outerportion of each leg 131 across each The relay winding contact arm 91 iselectrically'connected to winding 121 by wire 137, while common relaycontact arm 95 is con- `nected to both windings by wires 139 and relaywinding contact arm 103 is electrically connected to winding 123 by wire141. The common or ground connector 97 which is bent to extend over thewinding is electrically discrete therefrom due to insulation 99 and itwill now be clear that upon energization et' coil 123 the armature 125will be projected from thaty end to and between armature contact arms 57and 113 to close the circuit between these arms, while if winding 121 isenergized the armature will t pending patent application.

The relay housing which may be a plastic moldedvunit comprises a top143, end walls and side walls 147 and is of a length substantiallyequalto the distance from the outer end of one opening 21 in the base to theouter end of the other opening 21 in the base. A hook 149 depends fromeach end wall 145 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

On the inner surface of the top of the housing I aix in any suitablemanner an electrical conducting ground or common plate member 151 whichis adjacent .to an opening 153'provided in the top of the housing.Adjacent each end of the housing in the interior thereof I ax in anysuitable lmanner a curved connector plate, one being designated by thenumeral 15S and the other by the -numeral157.

The tubular signal standard 5 is Vmounted on the top 143 vof :thehousing so that the interior of the standard is in communication withthe interior ofthe housing .through opening 1'53 in the housing top.Thus, electric leads and the ground may extend from the interior of thehousing up through the standard and to the electric lamps ,positioned inthe lamp housing 7.

I provide miniature electric lamp bulbs 159 and 161, red and green,respectively, which are removably frictionaily mounted in sockets 163and 165, respectively,

which are provided in the molded plastic :lamp housing 7.

.Thellamp receiving sockets are separated by a wall 167 :having an"opening 169 therein which `is--in alignment with Van openingl 171 inthe bottom wall of the lamp housing into which the upper end 173 ofstandard 5 is inserted. The =bulb 159 is provided with a lead 175 whilebulb 161 is provided with a lead 177, these leads being threaded intostandard through an opening 179 therein and extending downwardly intothe housing 3 where lead 175 is soldered as at 181 to connector plate157 while lead 177 is soldered as at 183 to connector plate 155. Aground 185 is soldered as at 187 to ground plate 151 and extendstherefrom through opening 153 in the top of the housing through thestandard 5 and the upper end 173 thereof and into socket 165 throughopening 169 and into socket 163 ythrough opening 169. The ingeniousmanner of properly positioning the groundv lead 185 will be explainedhereinafter.

The ladder 9 is supported on the top 143 of the relay housing 3 andextends upwardly therefrom to the signal lamp housing 7. At its upperend the ladder may be of fork-like construction providing a pair ofprongs 189 which removably receive between them the lower part of signallamp housing 7. The platform 11 is mounted in lany suitable manner tothe ladder and to the standard, between which elements it extends.V

With the electrical components disposed and xed as described the housing3 with its supported structure is mounted on the base in positionextending over and covering the relay by inserting the hooks 149 intobase openings 21. When the housing is so positioned the ground or commonplate member 151 makes electrical contact with the common member 97 ofthe base to thereby ground the bulbs through ground 185. Furtherelectrical contacts are made between curved connector plates 155 and 157and lamp circuit contact arms 87 and 117, respectively. Thus, thecircuits through the assembly are assured when the housing isincorporated with the base.

It will now be evident that I have evolved a signal assembly formed ofseveral structural parts, each of which carries electrical conductingandconnecting elements so organized that upon fastening the structuralparts together automatically associates the electrical conducting andconnecting elements so that electrical circuits are provided followingthe teachings of my pending application, Serial No. 588,411.

I have devised a simple, sure and eicient method of positioning theground conductor strip 185 in proper position in sockets 163 and 165 oflamp housing 7. As pointed out above the lamp housing includes the twolamp sockets 163 and 165 which are closed to the exterior except throughthe opening 171 in the bottom of the housing. The ground strip 135 isformed of a exible electrical conductive material and in properlypositioning it in the sockets it is inserted upwardly through thestandard 5 upon the end of which the lamp housing is mounted. The stripis inserted through standard 5, opening 171, through the lower socket165 and upwardly through opening 169 between the sockets until the upperend of the strip is in engagement with the top wall of upper socket4163. This first step of positioning strip 185 is illustrated in Fig. l0of the drawings, Upward pressure is applied to the strip whereupon theupper portion thereof will bend under the upward pressure and willassume the curvature of half the wall of the upper socket 163 asdisclosed at 191 in Fig. l1, whereupon the lamp bulb 159 may be pressedinto the socket 163 and into contact with the curved portion 191 of theground strip as illustrated in Fig. l2. Further upward pressure is nowapplied to strip 185 to cause that portion thereof which extends throughthe lower socket 165 to bend and curve against the wall of the socket asat 193 in Fig. 13 of the drawings whereupon the lamp bulb 161 may beforced into the Socket in electrical contact with curved portion 193 ofground strip 185.

The signal assembly which has been described is connected into aminiature railway system by placing it adjacent a rail 195 of the trackof the system and placing Ithe laterally projecting contacts 55 and 73in electrical elongated body of electric conductive material having acurved outer end or hook 201 and a forked inner end 203. The outer underportion and hook is covered with any suitable insulation 205 so that theelement will not be electrically connected with the track when it isassociated therewith as shown in the drawings. The forked inner end 203is adapted to be inserted throughl notch 33 of wall 15 of base 1 and toextend between the bed 13 of the base and circuit control arm which ismounted on the insert 35. In order to insert the forked end of theelement into position the button 49 is depressed which causes sucientdownward exing of the portion 36 of the insert and the arm 105 away fromthe bed 13 to permit insertion ofthe forked end between the insert andthe bed. Release of pressure on button 49 permits the insert to returnto normal position with the forked end of the element in clampedposition in good electrical contact with arm 105. To remove the elementit is only necessary, of course, to repeat the operation.

In Fig. 14 of the drawings I have schematically illustrated onearrangement whereby two of my signal assemblies may be used with a panelboard and while using the automatic control of train and signal asdisclosed in my aforesaid pending application Serial No. 588,411.

In this diagram l have shown a track 205 of closed o'val shape, thetrack having two sections 207 and 209 insulated from the remainder ofthe track by means of breaks 211 therein.

I provide a source of D.C. power 213 connected to the track by leads 215and a. source of A.C. power 217 connected to the rail with the breakstherein by a lead 219. I provide two signal assemblies, 221A and 221B,the assembly 221A controlling the insulated track section 209 whileassembly 221B controls insulated track section 207. Each signal assemblyis electrically connected to the rail by track contact arms 55 and 73and a train control element 199 projects laterally from each assembly onto and insulated from the rail. The circuit includes a panel boardindicated generally by numeral 223 and this board includes a simulation225 of the track and a pair of simulation signals 227A and 227B.

One side of the A.C. power supply 217 is connected by a conductor 229with a common connector 231 between simulated signals 227A and 227B, andeach signal light 227A is connected by conductors 233 and 235 intosignal assembly 221A at the corresponding signal light circuit terminalA1 and F1 and similarly each signal light 227B is connected byconductors 237 and 239 into signal assembly 221B at the correspondingsignal light circuit terminal A1 and F1 so that the closing and openingof the signal light circuits will be reflected at the signal lights onthe panel board.

The armature contact C1 of assembly 221A is connected by conductor 241with armature contact E1 of assembly 221B, contacts D1 of each assemblyare grounded by conductors 243 and 245, and contact El of assembly 221Ais connected by conductor 247 with contact C1 of assembly 221B.

The circuit arrangement is such that with a train travelling in thedirection of the arrow and upon travelling over train contact element199 of signal assembly 221A to close the circuit in accordance with thedisclosure of my pending application Serial No. 588,411, the red signallight in assembly 221A will be lighted and also signal light in signal227A while green signal light in assembly 221B will be energized and thegreen signal light in simulated signal 227B. When the train reachestrain lthe aforementioned lightinguwillake place.

-I' will now be recognized that I have devised signal assembly which isdesigned for use with miniature frailway lslywsterns which isfobf 4thenecessary sinall p'ipo'r'ti'is, is compact and sturdy 'and Easy jf'assemble and dis assemble. ,r

I claim:

1. A miniature electric signal assembly, including a base, a housingremovably mounted on said base, a standard iixed to and projectingupwardly from said housing and a signal lamp housing removably mountedon the upper end of said standard and removably carrying thereinelectric signal light bulbs, electrically operated switching mechanismmounted on said base within said housing, an electric circuit withinsaid assembly connecting said electric signal light bulbs to saidswitching mechanism, said electric circuit including electric connectormeans, including a ground conductor, mounted on said base and furtherelectric connector means, including a ground con -nector plate mountedin said housing, said ground conductor plate being electricallyconnected to said electric signal light bulbs, said further electricconnector means and said ground connector plate being engagea-ble withsaid electric connec-tor means and said ground conductor, respectivelywhen the housing is fixed to the base.

2. A miniature electric assembly in accordance with claim l, whereinsaid electric connector means project upwardly from said base and areexible and said further electric connector means are rigid anddimensionally greater than said electric connector means.

3. A miniature electric signal assembly, including a base, an insertattached to one side thereof, a housing removably mounted on said base,a standard fixed to and projecting upwardly yfrom said housing and asignal lamp housing removably mounted on the upper end of said standard,and electric signal light bulbs removably carried in said signal lamphousing, a reversible relay mounted on the other side of said basewithin said hous ing, iiexible contacts projecting upwardly above saidbase and adapted to be engaged and closed by the armature of said relay,certain of said contacts being mounted on said insert and extendingthrough said base and the other of said contacts being mounted on saidbase, and a lamp circuit within said assembly, said circuit including apair of flexible contacts mounted on said base, and rigid connectorelements fixed in said housing and engageable with said pair of exiblecontacts to complete the signal lamp circuit when said housing ismounted on said base.

4. A miniature electric signal assembly, including a base member, ahousing member removably mounted on said base 4member and a signal lamphousing supported from said housing member, electric signal light bulbsremovably carried in saidV signal light housing, electric switchingmeans mounted on said base to control the lighting of said bulbs, anelectric circuit including said switching means, said signal light bulbsand a plurality of iiexible and rigid electrical contact elements, saidflexible electric contacts being mounted on one member and said rigidelectric contacts being mounted on the other member, the said exible andrigid electric contacts being engageable with each other to complete thecircuit when said housing member is mounted on said base member.

5. A miniature electric sign-al assembly, including a base having a topand bottom surface, an insert attached to the bot-tom surface thereof, ahousing removably mounted on said base and a signal lamp housingsupported from said housing, electric signal light bulbs removablycarried in said signal light housing, a reversible relay mounted on thetop surface of said base, an electric circuit including said reversiblerelay, said signal light bulbs and a plurality of tiexible and rigidelectric contact elements, certiii of said iiexible electric contactelements being mounted 'en the insert ana extending through the bals ftproject thereabove and the remainder of said Iiieribl electric contactelements being inountd on the bas air'd said lrigid electrical contactelements being Afixed iii said hou'si'g and engageablewith certain ofsaidptflexible contactelements when the housing is mounted on the base-to complete said circuit.

6. A base for a miniature electric signal assembly including an insertattached to the -under surface of said base, electric conductor elementsiixed to said base and connected in an electric circuit adapted tocontrol the energizing of electric signal lamp bulbs and an electricconductive strip txed to the upper surface of said insert and normallyin engagement with the under surface of said base and connected acrosscertain of said electric conductor elements, and means for liexing aportion of said insert upon which said conductive strip is mounted awayfrom said base for insertion of a connector element between said baseand said conductive strip into electric contact with the latter. i

7. A base for a miniature electric signal assembly in accordance withclaim 6 wherein said means is a button xed to said insert and extendingupwardly therefrom and slidably through said base and projectingthereabove.

8. A base for a miniature electric signal assembly, said base beingprovided with an elongated opening therein, a pair of spaced bridgestransversely spanning the opening, an insert having an elongated openingtherein and a pair of spaced 4bridges transversely spanning the opening,the insert being attached to the under surface of the base with theopening and bridges thereof in substantial alignment with the openingand bridges in said base electrical conductor and contact elements xedto said insert and base and extending through the openings, andelectrical switch means mounted on said base and having bend-able legsextended through the openings and bent under said insert bridges toanchor the elec-trical switch means to the base, and said electricalconductors and contact elements and said electrical switch means beingconnected in an electric circuit adapted to control the selectiveenergizing of one of a plurality of electric sign-al light bulbs.

9. A lamp housing having a pair of sockets therein, said socketsvbeingadapted to receive lamp bulbs therein, a wall having an openingtherethrough separating said sockets, and the exterior wall of one ofsaid sockets having an opening therethrough in alignment with said firstmentioned opening, an electrical conductor strip extended through theopening in the exterior wall and extended substantially half way aroundthe wall of said one of said sockets and extended through the opening inthe wall separating the sockets and extended substantially half wayabout the wall of the other socket, said conductor strip adapted to bein electrical engagement with the lamp bulbs when they are inserted inthe sockets.

10.*The method of assembling a exible single length electricalconductive strip with an electric lamp housing having lamp bulbreceiving sockets therein, those steps of inserting the strip through anopening in the exterior wall of one socket, exerting inward force onthat portion of the strip which is outside the housing causing the stripto move through said one socket, continuing to apply force on the stripcausing said strip to move into the next adjacent socket through anopening in the wall between said sockets and into engagement with thewall of the next adjacent socket, continuing to exert Iforce on saidstrip and causing that portion of the strip in said next adiacent socket-to bend into engagement with and conforming to the shape ofsubstantially half the wall of the next adjacent socket and continuingto exert pressure on said strip causing that portion thereof in said onesocket to bend into engagement with and conforming to the shape ofsubstantially halt` the wall of said one socket.

(References on following page) ReferencesCited in the le .of this patentUNITED STATES PATENTS Millerl Apr. 27, 1915 Neuner Nov. 1, 1932 5 DoaneOet. 16, 1934 Kinney Feb. 18, 1941 12 Dover Sept. 1,5, 1942 PastererApr. 11, 1944 Iohanek Sept. 8, 1953 Hursh y 1 V Dec, 21, 1954 Bonanno...-Oct.A 7 195,8

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain May 3, 1949

